Sunday March 1, 2026 Matt Revis & Katie Hale

 

Theme: "CELL DIVISION" - One word is inserted into a cellphone-related terms, breaking them apart and turning them into wacky new phrases.

22. Part of the hiring process for stenographers?: TOUCH TYPE SCREEN. Touch screen. 

36. Stage production about the lives of autoworkers?: CARMAKERS PLAY. CarPlay. 

47. Need for the queen of hearts to get past security?: FACE CARD ID. Face ID.

68. Picture-perfect brioche?: CAMERA READY ROLL. Camera roll. 

94. Escape capsules for rent?: AIRBNB PODS. AirPods.

102. Investigation into how E.T. got away?: PHONE HOME CASE. Phone case. 

Reveal: 

123. Silicon Valley game changers, or an alternate title for this puzzle: TECH DISRUPTIONS.

What a great title! 

The base phrases are all familiar cellphone terms, with a few distinctly iPhone: CarPlay, Face ID, and AirPods. Each term is "interrupted" by the insertion of an extra word. That added word isn't random of course. It pairs with the first word to form another common phrase.

Across:

1. Plant with edible sprouts: ALFALFA.

8. Bouldering spot: CLIFF. Also 19. Homes for the higher-ups?: AERIES. Nests that might well be found on a cliff. 
 
13. Kemper of "The Office": ELLIE. She played Erin Hannon.

18. Pointed beards: GOATEES.

21. Eerie haunted hayride sounds: MOANS.

24. Take illegally: USURP.

25. Brings together: UNITES.

26. Horror film subjects, maybe: EVILS.

27. Brit's bathroom: LOO.

29. Three-pointer: TREY. Basketball shot.

30. Supermodel Beckford: TYSON. I recognized his face but not his name. He's Jamaican-American model. Did you know that women earn much more than men in the modeling industry?

 

31. Blather on and on: PRATE.

32. Like some jeans: LOW-RISE.

34. Party hard: RAGE.

40. Wire service co.: UPI.

43. Chest muscle, briefly: PEC.

45. Swindle: CON.

46. Kitchen set: DINETTE.

52. Candy from a novelty dispenser: PEZ.

54. Waxy compound: STEROL. Wikipedia says sterols are a subgroup of the steroids

55. "Aida," for one: OPERA.

56. Sherbet serving: SCOOP.

58. Way in: DOOR.

60. PC maker: DELL.

61. Glossy fabrics: SATINS.

63. Antihistamine target, perhaps: WELT.

65. Fair-hiring org.: EEOC.

67. Overhead trains: ELS.

73. Make calls?: UMP. Balls/strikes calls.

76. Corporate symbol: LOGO.

77. "Eh, __ difference": SAME.

78. Fixes, as loose ends: TIES UP.

82. Stain on Santa's suit: SOOT.

84. King of cinema: KONG. 

86. Sound of impact: SPLAT.

89. Heavenly food: MANNA. Tasted like honey wafers. I could eat it daily for 40 years too. 

90. Bleak: MOROSE.

92. "__ we good?": ARE.

96. Word on some film awards: ACTRESS.  Jessie Buckley this year!

98. Clairvoyance, e.g.: ESP.

100. White lie: FIB.

101. Spam sender: BOT.

106. "Well, shoot!": RATS.

109. English noble title: BARONET.

110. Did a fall chore: RAKED.

112. Poetic feet: IAMBI.

116. Molt: SHED.

118. Armed conflict: WAR. 4. Greek goddess of 118-Across: ATHENA.

119. Do the dishes?: CATER. Literally. 

120. Release: UNMOOR.

121. Eagle's claw: TALON.

126. Back street: ALLEY.

127. More pale: ASHIER.

128. Stepped inside: ENTERED.

129. Silly one: GOOSE.

130. Razz: TEASE.

131. Whatsits: DOODADS.

Down:

1. Anguish: AGONY.

2. Name of many French kings: LOUIS.  Ludwig in German.

3. Consideration: FACTOR.

5. "We should!": LET'S.

6. Tina of "Only Murders in the Building": FEY.

7. According to: ASPER.

8. House in "Encanto": CASITA. Also appears in Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show.

9. Ferrari Formula One driver Charles: LECLERC. Learning moment for me. He was born in Monte Carlo and has won eight Grands Prix.

10. Bargain basket items, for short: IRRS. Irregulars.

11. Old-timey "Darn you!": FIE.

12. "You doing all right?": FEEL OK.

13. Flightless Australian bird: EMU.

14. Slowed down: LOST SPEED.

15. Bay leaf source: LAUREL TREE. Can't survive the Minnesota winter.

16. Memo phrase: IN RE.

17. Best Championship Performance, e.g.: ESPY.

20. Covered in white, in a way: SNOWED.

22. Disapproving sound: TUT.

23. Storm rescue op: EVAC. Evacuation.

28. Potpourri ingredient: ORRIS ROOT. We had this before. 

31. House of Lords members: PEERS.

32. Like bowling alleys: LANED.

33. "__ that precious?": ISN'T.

35. College app datum: GPA.

37. Bucket partner: MOP.

38. Coral island: ATOLL.

39. Shouts: YELLS.

40. Sci-fi craft: UFOS.

41. Family nickname: PAPA. Baba in Chinese.

42. "Law & Order: SVU" co-star: ICE-T.

44. Atlanta-based govt. agency: CDC.

48. Actor Bana: ERIC. He played Hector in "Troy".

49. Lock setting: CANAL.

50. Sioux City state: IOWA.

51. Self-starters: DOERS.

53. Rapper of "KPop Demon Hunters": ZOEY. One more learning moment.

57. Court statements: PLEAS.

59. Above, poetically: OER.

62. Exceptionally attractive person, slangily: SMOKESHOW. Learned this slang from a previous LAT grid.

64. Bay on Florida's west coast: TAMPA.

66. Ascend: CLIMB.

69. Teamwork inhibitor: EGO.

70. Novelist Jaffe: RONA.

71. Cold cuts counter: DELI.

72. Jump: LEAP.

73. Graphic that typically has two insets: US MAP.

74. Sponge: MOOCH.

75. Mushroom that can be a burger: PORTOBELLO. 

79. Snooty one: SNOB.

80. Click a backward arrow, maybe: UNDO.

81. Erstwhile: PAST.

83. Twisters: TORNADOES.

85. Say hello to: GREET.

87. "Woof": ARF.

88. Car in a Beach Boys song: T BIRD.

91. Oracle: SEER.

93. F1 neighbor: ESC.

95. Org. with Bulls and Bucks: NBA.

97. Beethoven composition: SONATA.

99. St. Patrick's Day events: PARADES.

103. Least: MEREST.

104. Much political humor: SATIRE.

105. Scrapes (out): EKES.

107. Like some car windows: TINTED.

108. Wiley of "The Handmaid's Tale": SAMIRA.

111. Scored an own goal: ERRED.

113. Called on a dairy farm: MOOED.

114. Stocks partner: BONDS.

115. Org. with a big returns department: IRS.

116. Alone: STAG.

117. Nativity headgear: HALO.

119. Seed in some healthy smoothies: CHIA.

120. "What are you __?": UP TO.

122. Dec. 31: NYE.

124. Michael of "SNL": CHE.

125. Low Spanish number: UNO.

C.C.

Sunday Feburary 1, 2026 Katie Hale

 Theme: "EXTRA PADDING" - P is added to each common phrase. 

23. Jaunty coast-to-coast race?: CROSS-COUNTRY SKIP. Cross-country ski. 

39. Arizona running back's evasive maneuver?: CARDINAL SPIN. Cardinal sin.

58. Incomprehensible peace treaty?: A HARD PACT TO FOLLOW. A hard act to follow. 

80. "Sesame Street: Sing the Alphabet," perhaps?: BEST-SPELLING ALBUM. Best-selling album.

99. Painters who specialize in portraits of imps?: SCAMP ARTISTS. Scam artist.

120. "Better not throw a changeup"?: SCRATCH THAT PITCH. Scratch that itch.

You need to read the title as P-ADDING. Very clever. When I first glanced at the title, I thought the letters EXTRA were orderly added to each common phrase. 

A nice variety where P is added to the start, the end and the middle. You can't get free letter fill-ins.

Katie, Patti's assistant, is also a terrific constructor. She's been generous with her time and guidance to all constructors. 

Across:

1. Noise that repeats nine minutes after snoozing: ALARM. The default snooze interval is 9 minutes.

6. Home of the NWSL's Royals: UTAH. The National Women's Soccer League.

10. La __: Italian opera venue: SCALA.

15. Good spot to check for loose change: SOFA.

19. Red __: playground game: ROVER.

20. Bond villain with an underwater lair: DR NO.

21. Islamic dietary standard: HALAL. Opposite of haram.

22. Video game franchise set on ring-shaped worlds: HALO.

26. Shiraz's land: IRAN.

27. Attached with thread: SEWED ON.

28. Cassowary relative: EMU.

29. Tried something new: HAD A TASTE. Have you had hōjicha tea before?

31. Tic-__-toe: TAC.

32. Scrapping: AXING.

34. Legitimate: LICIT.

35. Relax completely: BLISS OUT.

44. "Good to go!": A-OK.

45. American short story writer Bret: HARTE.

47. Padre's hermana: TIA. Father's sister.

48. Shot administrator: NURSE.

49. Hosted, for short: MCED.

51. Skewed view: BIAS.

53. "Licorice Pizza" setting: ENCINO. LA area. 

57. "Close this program" key: ESC.

62. __ it up: YUK.

63. Beijing money: YUAN. Here's one Yuan. My dad's salary was 49 Yuan ($8) per month for a long while. I learned to take care of my clothes at an earlier age, as we didn't get new clothes until the Chinese New Year.

64. "Oh boy": MAN.

65. Midflight info: ALT.

66. "What difference __ it make?": DOES.

67. Tidy up: CLEAN.

69. Turned off?: WENT BAD. And  72. Gets even?: IRONS. Fun clues.

74. "__ she blows!": THAR.

75. Arriving soon: DUE.

77. Vegan milk choice: OAT. Grew up drinking soy milk. 

78. Years, in Italian: ANNI.

79. Bowl edge: RIM.

87. "Midsommar" director Aster: ARI.

88. Photoshop tool: ERASER.

89. Absence: LACK.

90. Time long past: YORE.

91. Latest fad: MANIA.

93. Year divs.: MOS.

95. Maldon and Himalayan pink: SALTS. Never tried Himalayan pink salt.

98. In the past: AGO.

104. Beef stroganoff, e.g.: MEAT STEW.

106. Romantasy novelist __ J. Maas: SARAH. She wrote the "Throne of Glass" series.

107. "__ been warned": YOU'VE.

109. Co. founder's second title, often: CEO. Not co-founder. Company founder.

110. Literary 1-Down: PLOT LINES. 1. Characters' journeys: ARCS.

114. Cocktail shaker noisemaker: ICE.

115. Tubes: TEEVEES.

119. Actor Liu: SIMU.

123. Blueprint detail: SPEC. This P is the only non-theme P in the grid. 

124. Rock opera by The Who: TOMMY.

125. Chemist's building block: ATOM.

126. __ de tigre: ceviche marinade: LECHE. Tiger's milk.  Google result: "Leche de Tigre is usually made using lime juice, sliced onion, chillies, salt, pepper and of course the wonderful juices of the fish it helps to marinate. It's sometimes served with the ceviche and sometimes in a separate glass." No milk is involved.

127. Totally flop: TANK.

128. Got going: AROSE.

129. Looks at: SEES.

130. Shared values: ETHOS.

Down:

2. Ancient tales: LORE.

3. Swear: AVOW.

4. Unplugs and plugs back in, say: RESETS.

5. Low-sodium seasoning brand: MRS DASH. I have this bottle.

6. Japanese noodle: UDON.

7. "Ur correct": TRU. Too lazy to add an E.

8. Additional wing: ANNEX.

9. Source of some political gaffes: HOT MIC.

10. A little short: SHY. And 11. Till filler: CASH.

12. Basic compound: ALKALI.

13. Stored up: LAID IN.

14. Fleecy camelid: ALPACA.

15. Acupressure massage: SHIATSU. Literally finger pressure. 

16. Couple of rowers: OARS.

17. London apartment: FLAT.

18. Primo: A ONE.

24. Brown shade: COCOA.

25. Cost: RUN AT.

30. Up to the moment: TIL NOW.

32. Story accessed by ladder, maybe: ATTIC.

33. Sorrow: GRIEF.

35. Iron Bowl team, familiarly: BAMA. Iron Bowl is the rivalry between Alabama Crimson Tide and Auburn Tigers.

36. Highlands water: LOCH.

37. Malm bed seller: IKEA.

38. __ Outfitters: URBAN.

40. "Pantheon" voice actor Paul: DANO.

41. Target, as for a con: PREY ON.

42. Magazine productions: ISSUES.

43. Bottle parts: NECKS.

46. Words on a Wonderland cake: EAT ME.

50. Wash day appliance: DRYER.

52. Superfan: STAN.

54. Covered (in): CLAD.

55. Sick: ILL.

56. Paying careful attention to: NOTING.

59. With 111-Down, "Illusion" singer: DUA. 111. See 59-Down: LIPA.

60. Insincerely aim to please: PANDER.

61. Using pointe shoes: ON TOE.

66. Fancy mat: DOILY.

67. French president before Sarkozy: CHIRAC. Jacques Chirac (1995-2007). Nicolas Sarkozy (2007–2012). 
 
68. Thin coating: LAMINA.

69. Preps, as a Slip 'N Slide: WETS.

70. Marble, for one: BALL.

71. Mercator projection book: ATLAS.

73. Vaccine molecule: RNA.

74. Amusement park rides: TRAMS.

76. Winners of the first FIFA Women's World Cup: USA. 1991. USA defeated Norway 2-1 in the final in Guangzhou. 

78. Maxi skirt terminus: ANKLE.

80. "Little help here": BE A PAL.

81. Not entirely: SEMI.

82. Like tedious text: PROSY.

83. Start of a classic boast: I CAME. I saw. I conquered.

84. Craft sometimes shaped like a swan: BOAT.

85. Strong impulse: URGE.

86. Mouser's call: MEOW.

92. "Little help here": I'M STUCK.

94. Showing no feelings: STOIC.

96. "Don't play," in music: TACET. Related to tacit.

97. Church topper: STEEPLE.

100. Record label launched by Clive Davis: ARISTA.

101. Deep hatred: RANCOR.

102. Dynamics prefix: THERMO.

103. "An example being ...?": SUCH AS.

105. Part of USSR: SOVIET.

108. Chevy sports car, for short: VETTE.

110. "Hey, can you keep a secret?": PSST.

112. Sign from above: OMEN.

113. __ Club: SAM'S.

115. Scots' bonnets: TAMS.

116. Make a nameplate, perhaps: ETCH.

117. Sound in an empty room: ECHO.

118. Patrick Swayze's "__ Like the Wind": SHE'S.

121. Sheridan of "Mud": TYE. He also starred "Ready Player One"

122. Garden tool: HOE.

C.C. 

Thursday, December 25, 2025, Katie Hale

Theme:  $omething extra in your stocking.

Today's crossword puzzle comes to us from Katie Hale, assistant crossword editor of the Los Angeles Times, who lives in London, England.  Thanks, Katie, for spreading Christmas cheer from across the pond!  We have some lovely, long theme answers today, and four circled letters.  The circled letters are added to English phrases, transforming the meaning of those phrases so that they match the clues.

16-Across. Produces apian-themed bedroom decor?: MAKES A BEE LINE[N].  Original phrase:  Makes a beeline, that is, goes quickly and directly toward a specific goal.  Adding N gives us MAKES A BEE LINEN, which is apian (bee related) sheets, pillowcases, and other fabric items that decorate a bed.

23-Across. Brand stylization such as camel case?: BUMP ON A LOG[O].  Original phrase:  Bump on a log, that is, someone who sits idle.  Adding O gives us BUMP ON A LOGO.  The reference is to "camel case," a writing format that eliminates spaces between words and indicates separation with capital letters:  PowerPoint, iPhone, FedEx, eBay.  The capital letter sticks up like the hump on a camel, and is often used in brand names.

40-Across. Creates cabernet with mallets?: HAMMERS OUT A WIN[E].  Original phrase:  Hammers out a win, that is, achieves a successful outcome through intense effort.  Adding E gives us HAMMERS OUT A WINE.  Imagine using mallets, which are hammers with large heads, to beat grapes into wine.

51-Across. English noble with an eyebrow ring?: PIERCED EAR[L].  Original phrase:  Pierced ear, that is, an ear in which a hole has been made to allow an earring to pass through.  Adding L gives us PIERCED EARL, a nobleman with additional body piercings.

61-Across. End-of-year perk, and what this puzzle's circled letters form: CHRISTMAS BONUS.  The circled letters spell NOEL, which means Christmas, and comes from the Latin natalis meaning birth or birthday.  A Christmas bonus usually connotes extra money added to one's paycheck at the end of the year, but in this case, we get some extra meanings thanks to NOEL.  The extra Christmas is a bonus!

What other Christmas treats does Katie have in store for us?  Let's open all the gifts.

Across:

1. Extract in some dog treats, briefly: CBD.  Cannabidiol (CBD) is an extract of Cannabis, and has been used to treat anxiety and pain, without much clinical evidence to support that usage.  Still, anything to help Fido feel better.

4. Fare ways?: CABS.  One way to get where you're going?  Pay a fare to ride in a cab.

8. Blue Ribbon beer: PABST.  Pabst claims that its beer was renamed Pabst Blue Ribbon following its win as "America's Best" at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. Whether the brand actually won an award in 1893 is unclear, but the beer had won many other awards at other fairs, and Pabst had already started tying blue ribbons around every bottle.  It was such a great marketing ploy that this was an easy answer for you today.

13. Mine material: ORE.

14. Tech gift-guide site: CNET.  Check it out.  

15. Uneasy feeling: AGITA.  Agitation or anxiety.

16. [Theme clue]

19. Jessica of "The Better Sister": BIEL.  Jessica Biel is an American movie and television actress. She co-starred with Elizabeth Banks in "The Better Sister," a 2025 Amazon limited series TV thriller.  The premise:  two estranged sisters, one married to and the other divorced from the same man, are forced together after he is murdered.

Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks

20. London's prov.: ONT.  London is a city in southwestern Ontario, Canada.  Not the same London where our crossword constructor resides.

21. Step up from amateur night: GIG.  A gig is a paid performance.

22. Cal. column: MON.  Calendar column:  Monday.

23. [Theme clue]

28. "R u 4 real!?": OMG.  Are you for real?  Oh my god!  (Text abbreviations.)

29. 1860s prez: ABE.

30. Before now: AGO.

31. PG Tips and Barry's: TEAS.

British and Irish tea brands

33. Odds partner: ENDS.

36. Contradict in court: REBUT.

40. [Theme clue]

43. Slumber: SLEEP.

44. Tip-top: ACME.

45. Element of cooled pudding: SKIN.  Pudding skin is a rubbery film that forms on the surface of cooked puddings as they cool.  In one episode of Seinfeld, George proposed to cut the skin off of puddings, wrap them in plastic, and sell them as "pudding skin singles," akin to Kraft Singles American cheese.

46. Objective: AIM.

48. "Tinker Bell" voice actress Whitman: MAE.  Mae Whitman has been acting since she was six years old.  She has a long list of movie and TV credits; you may remember her from Parenthood (2010-2015).

Mae Whitman, Lauren Graham, and Miles Heizer in Parenthood

50. Actress Mendes: EVA.  Eva Mendes acted in a lot of movies before calling it quits in 2022, citing a lack of good roles that weren't specifically Latina.  She has two daughters with Ryan Gosling.

Eva Mendez and Ryan Gosling

51. [Theme clue]

56. 43-Across letters: REM.  SLEEP letters?  REM is a stage of sleep marked by -- you guessed it -- Rapid Eye Movement and vivid dreaming.

57. One point in gin rummy: ACE.  Gin Rummy, or simply Gin, is a two player card game in which aces are always valued at one point.

58. DC villain Luthor: LEX.  In DC comics, Lex Luthor is a supervillain with no superpowers.  He's just a wealthy, evil genius, and he's the archenemy of Superman.

Even a supervillain can grow up to be President.

59. Tie to a dock: MOOR.

61. [Theme clue]

66. Actor/director Waititi: TAIKA.  Taika Waititi is a New Zealnd filmmaker, actor, and comedian.  He co-wrote, co-directed, and starred in the horror comedy film What We Do in the Shadows (2014) and more recently directed Thor: Ragnarok (2017) and Thor: Love and Thunder (2022).

Taika Waititi

67. Beauty aisle brand: OLAY.

68. Unreliable stat from the chronically late: ETA.  Adorable youngest daughter is not to be trusted regarding her Estimated Time of Arrival.

69. Like an intimidating climb: STEEP.

70. Eyelid issue: STYE.

71. Set: GEL.  Gel as a verb is to change from a liquid into a thick, soft solid.  Set is another way of saying the same thing.  Are you thinking of 45-Across, pudding skin?

Down:

1. Burger, fries, and a drink, perhaps: COMBO MEAL.

2. Cognitive ability improver: BRAIN GAME.  You're playing one!

3. Hockey feint: DEKE.  A deceptive movement or feint that induces an opponent to move out of position.  This seems to be an ice hockey specific term, and can be used as a noun or verb.

4. Includes, in a way: CCS.  We used to do this with carbon copies!  I still sometimes spell out the CCs at the end of an email when I want to the recipients to be aware of whose eyes will see a "reply all."

5. "Ballerina" actress de Armas: ANA.  Ana de Armas grew up in Cuba, moved to Spain, and then moved to Los Angeles, playing leading film and TV roles along the way.  She was the holographic AI Joi in Blade Runner 2049 (2017), Paloma in the James Bond film No Time to Die (2021) and Marilyn Monroe in Blonde (2022), for which she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress.  Ballerina was a 2025 thriller.

Ana de Armas

6. "__-a-Lula": classic Gene Vincent hit: BE-BOP.  "Be-Bop-a-Lula" is a rockabilly song first recorded in 1956 by Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps.

7. Real-time record-keeper, for short: STENO.  A STENOgrapher's job is to transcribe speech, as it occurs, using shorthand writing or a stenographic machine, especially in courtroom settings.

8. Good bud: PAL.

9. Form 1040 amt.: AGI.  Adjusted Gross Income belongs on Line 11 of Form 1040.  It reflects your income from all sources, minus certain allowable expenses.

10. "That's exactly right!": BINGO.

11. "Doctor De Soto" writer/illustrator William: STEIG.  I know William Steig mostly for a little picture book called CDB! (1968).   Doctor De Soto (1982) won the National Book Award.  The plot features a mouse dentist who wants to help a fox with a toothache, and yet not be eaten by him.

12. Dance with figure-eight steps: TANGO.

17. Idris of "Hijack": ELBA.  Idris Elba appears frequently in the puzzle.  He's a hugely successful actor who gained fame through his role in the HBO series The Wire (2002–2004).  Hijack is an Apple TV+ thriller series that debuted in 2023; a second season is set to premiere in January 2026.

Idris Elba

18. Volcano where Bronte pistachios are grown: ETNA.  Bronte, Sicily, Italy, is on the slopes of Mount Etna, the active volcano.  The little pistachios grown there derive a sweet flavor from the volcanic soil.

Bronte, Sicily, with Mount Etna

22. Wool-loving pests: MOTHS.

24. __ Eats: UBER.

25. Society for smarties: MENSA.

26. Taj Mahal city: AGRA.

27. Luxury hotel chain: LOEWS.

32. Spread, as peanut butter: SMEAR.

34. Sleepy housemate: DOC.  From Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

35. __ cum laude: SUMMA.  I imagine that many cruciverbalists earned this distinction in college.

37. Trail for cyclists: BIKE ROUTE.

38. Covering everything: UNIVERSAL.

39. Brunch date hr.: TEN AM.  In L.A., people will invite you to brunch at 1 PM.  1 PM!!  Does the language mean nothing any more?  On the other hand, sure, I can be ready by 1 PM.

41. Extraordinary: EPIC.

42. Feature of some distressed jeans: TEAR.

47. Turn to liquid: MELT.

49. Furry red Muppet: ELMO.  The Tickle Me Elmo doll was a huge fad during the 1996 Christmas shopping season.

51. Promises between besties: PACTS.

52. Apple's old messaging app: iCHAT.  iDON'Tchat.  I'm not an Apple person.

53. Haunting: EERIE.

54. Short exhibitions: DEMOS.

55. Speak highly of: EXALT.

60. Pull felt on Earth: O NEG.  Here I need your help.  Are we dealing with gravity?  With weightlessness?  Is the first character a zero, that is, zero neg?  Help, I'm falling!  Or failing!

[The answer was ONE G -- the force of gravity on the surface of the earth, as pointed out by several commenters.  NaomiZ experienced a blind spot here!]

62. 1950s prez: IKE.

Eisenhower and Nixon

63. Sucker: SAP.

64. Go: SAY.  So I go, that movie is the best!, and Sharie goes, it was totally rad!

65. "Ta-ta": BYE.  Ciao for now.

Here's the grid:

Solvers, did this BRAIN GAME give you AGITA?  Did you survive by the SKIN of your teeth?

Or did your SUMMA cum laude and MENSA credentials earn you an EPIC win?

Your gift to the rest of us:  a comment below!

If you don't have a Blogger handle, consider being super cool like Darren in L.A. and signing your Anonymous comment. 

Merry Christmas!

-- NaomiZ

 

 

 

Notes from C.C.:

 

1) Happy birthday to dear Kathy (Yellowrocks)! I'm so happy to see you back on the blog. I hope you're having an extra-special day celebrating with your family.
 

Yellowrocks, Dec 10, 2020

2) Happy birthday to Lorraine (Fermatprime) as well! I hope you're doing well. And "Hello"  to Malcolm too - he reads our blog regularly and keeps me posted on how Lorraine is doing from time to time.

Fermatprime, Thanksgiving, 2015

Sunday November 23, 2025 Adam Simpson & Katie Hale

Theme: "THE MATH AIN'T MATHING" - Each math term is rephrased as a non-math concept.

22. Allocation of royal flags before the King's speech?: STANDARD DISTRIBUTION.

33. Consideration when switching religions?: CONVERSION FACTOR. Mardia was baptized at 16 in a river back in Liberia. She's now preparing to convert to Catholicism. My classmate Mary grew up Catholic but explored other faiths as an adult. Both of them have to do their confessions before they’re confirmed next Easter. I don't. Yay!

58. San Andreas Fault?: LONG DIVISION.

67. Lab surface for a geneticist?: MULTIPLICATION TABLE.

78. Birth announcement?: ADDITION SIGN.

99. Show tune that makes no sense?: IRRATIONAL NUMBER.

118. FOMO, for "Fear of Missing Out," e.g.?: SIMPLIFIED EXPRESSION.

I like this playful turn of phrase throughout the set. A broad range of math vocabulary. The clues are key to this type of rephrasing theme, and they all land humorously. 

Heavy themage. Total 115 squares. 

Can you read this page?  It says Adam is Canadian living in San Francisco. Video game designer.  And you'll know Katie, assistant to Patti and generous mentor to many newbies.  

Across:

1. Sermon giver: PASTOR. Sigh, my Pastor Mark sounds like Pasta Mark. 

7. Cold water entry, maybe: PLUNGE.

13. Part of a Sheets or Slides username: GMAIL.

18. "Gimme, gimme!": I NEED IT.

20. No-handed cartwheel: AERIAL. Aerial cartwheel. 

21. PD rank: SARGE.

25. "Curses": DAMN.

26. Stripes partners: STARS.

27. Ending for sub-: URB.

28. Units of pop: LITERS.

29. __ first-name basis: ON A.

30. Auto repair chain: MAACO.

31. MacGraw of "The Winds of War": ALI.

32. Like puppies: CUTE.

37. Laotian pork salad: LARB. Our local Asia store has freshly-made larb. 

41. Beer merchant selection: ALE.

42. Light touch: PAT.

43. Overnight __: OATS.

45. Big cat in the sky: LEO.

46. "If You __ Been There": Dolly Parton track: HADN'T.

49. Comedian Lydic: DESI. New DESI angle! 

51. Popcorn seasoning: SALT.

53. Boat bodies: HULLS.

55. Sushi-grade tuna: AHI.

56. Part of a bedding bundle: SHAM.

61. Brand name derived from the Danish for "play well": LEGO.

63. Gulf State leader: EMIR.

65. Small waterway: RIA.

66. St. __: English surf town: IVES.

73. Beseeched: PLED.

74. Nice negation: NON. Nice the city.

75. Rose Bowl org.: NCAA.

76. Days of __: YORE.

83. "Go no farther": HALT.

85. Chivalrous title: SIR.

86. Old news source: CRIER.

87. Facial treatment: PEEL.

88. Pokémon that evolves into Lairon: ARON. Another new cluing angle.

90. Total: UTTER.

92. Damage: MAR.

93. On a transatlantic crossing: ASEA.

95. African grazer: GNU.

96. "U almost here?": ETA.

97. CPR experts: EMTS.

107. Forearm bone: ULNA.

109. Beseech: BEG.

110. Treacherous schemes: SCAMS.

111. "__ got to hand it to you": I'VE.

112. Fictional island paradise: UTOPIA.

115. Early AOL rival: MSN.

116. "Ya fell for it!": SUCKA. Sucker.

117. "Bring on the weekend!" letters: TGIF.

122. Stink: SMELL.

123. Dark horse and sitting duck: IDIOMS.

124. Element with atomic number 33: ARSENIC.

125. Actress Rapp: RENEE.

126. Up to this point: TIL NOW.

127. Come to terms, in a way: SETTLE.

Down:

1. Italian sculptor Nicola: PISANO. Learning moment for me. Wikipedia says "Pisano is sometimes considered to be the founder of modern sculpture."

2. Diminutive Marvel hero: ANTMAN.

3. "Temperature" rapper __ Paul: SEAN.

4. Q tile score in Scrabble: TEN.

5. "If I had to guess ... ": ODDS ARE.

6. Rawhide ropes: RIATAS.

7. Rollerblading gear: PADS.

8. Luau adornment: LEI.

9. Disney villain with a garden of trapped merpeople: URSULA. Scary.

10. __ acid: NITRIC.

11. Apparel: GARB.

12. "Hostel" director Roth: ELI.

13. Aviator's outfit: G SUIT.

14. Toymaking giant: MATTEL.

15. Singer India.__: ARIE.

16. Composer Stravinsky: IGOR.

17. Binoculars part: LENS.

19. "Last Call" singer Braxton: TRACI. Toni's sister.

23. Turns down?: DROOPS.

24. Say impulsively, with "out": BLURT.

25. __ Hopper: "The Muppet Movie" villain: DOC.  Another learning moment.

30. Gooey sammies: MELTS.

31. Toward the stern: AFT.

32. South American kin of a raccoon: COATI.

34. The Mystery Machine, e.g.: VAN. "Scooby Doo!".

35. __ polish: NAIL.

36. "__ you so!": TOLD.

38. "We can't come back from this!": ALL IS LOST.

39. Change ZIP codes: RELO.

40. Chief on deck: BOSN.

44. Deity of destruction: SHIVA. "The Destroyer".

46. A.I. of 1960s cinema: HAL.

47. "Beg pardon": AHEM.

48. Look for a scandal: DIG UP DIRT.

49. Like a wrung-out cloth: DAMP.

50. Expressionist painter Nolde: EMIL.

51. Tantrum: SNIT.

52. Over: AGAIN.

54. Groceries date: USE BY.

57. Supermodel Klum: HEIDI.

59. Red-haired ape: ORANG.

60. Like major organs: VITAL.

62. Jump on board?: OLLIE. Skateboard. I also like the clue for 95. Stand-up job?: GIG.

64. Step on a shampoo bottle: RINSE.

68. Neon-striped fish: TETRA.

69. Loopy shape: COIL.

70. Uno m s siete: OCHO.

71. Tikka masala side: NAAN.

72. Cedar Point expanse: ERIE.

77. Fail to hit save before closing, e.g.: ERR.

78. Fictional company with wacky products: ACME.

79. Wee drink: DRAM.

80. Verdi's realm: OPERA.

81. On one's doorstep: NEAR.

82. Second intro?: NANO.

84. "Black Swan" costumes: TUTUS.

89. Accumulates: RUNS UP.

91. Aberdeen topper: TAM.

94. Biblical mount: SINAI.

96. As a group: EN MASSE.

98. Pliant: SUPPLE.

100. Rappel, in British parlance: ABSEIL. Descend by rope. One more learning moment.

101. Achilles __: TENDON.

102. West African capital: ACCRA.

103. Los Angeles cagers: LAKERS.

104. Shell industry: BIG OIL.

105. Reveal clearly: EVINCE.

106. Call maker: REF.

108. French city that sounds small: LILLE.

112. Cold War rival, initially: USSR.

113. Proctor's call: TIME.

114. Harbinger: OMEN.

115. Skirt that falls around the shin: MIDI.

116. Austin, TX, festival: SXSW. South by Southwest.

117. Add a bit of color: TINT.

119. Go together well: FIT.

120. Angsty genre: EMO.

121. Ready to go: SET.

C.C.